UNB Rugby players suspended for nudity,kids !

[argh1]

N.B. rugby team may end naked celebrations after exposure in newspaper

CHRIS MORRIS

FREDERICTON (CP) - The time-honoured tradition of male rugby players from the University of New Brunswick running naked after a big win is in jeopardy now that the practice has received wide exposure in a student newspaper.

The Aquinian, the student newspaper of St. Thomas University in Fredericton, published a large-colour photograph earlier this week showing four UNB players streaking across a field wearing only rugby socks, sunglasses and smiles.

While the newspaper photo shows only four of the players, full-frontal and with their penises unobscured, witnesses at the Fredericton game said Friday at least 10 players were involved in the celebratory streak.

The UNB team had just won the provincial men's rugby championship.

"It's just a fun thing to do and the rugby team has been doing it for years," said Ben Brackett, a UNB kinesiology student and member of the rugby team.

"It's a tradition. There's a lot of adrenaline going when you win something like that."

Brackett was one of the students who joined the streak, but only the four who had their photo published have experienced the wrath of the university and have been temporarily suspended from play.

The university's recreation department said it has suspended the four players from competing in the Maritime men's university rugby championship this weekend in Halifax.

The university said the action was taken after the photo appeared in the student newspaper.

Clint Hamilton, director of intercollegiate athletics at UNB, said that while he was not involved in the decision to suspend the players, he understands why the action was taken.

Hamilton said university athletes have a responsibility to their school to behave properly in public.

"You are representing the university and your behaviour and conduct have to be appropriate and portray the university in a positive fashion," he said.

However, Brackett said he doesn't think it's fair that four of his teammates were suspended for a practice that has gone on for years.

"It's not fair," he said. "I don't think anyone should be penalized. We've been doing it for so long, the university should have warned us before if they had an issue with it."

Last year, the players who ran nude were also photographed. But that time it was from the rear and there were no objections when the picture was published.

Miriam Christensen, editor of The Aquinian, said the newspaper has received many calls of support and only a few negative comments since the photo appeared in the Wednesday edition.

"I didn't find it offensive myself," Christensen said of the photo. "They were engaging in a celebration. They weren't doing anything lewd . . . Some people just express their excitement in different ways."

Brackett said the photograph and the fallout will have a chilling effect on the team and the practice of running naked across playing fields.

He said that if he had known a photographer was going to publish the picture, he probably would not have stripped down and pranced with the others.

He said if he had been in the picture, he would have made sure his parents didn't see it.

"I hope it doesn't mean the end (of the streaking), but it probably could," Brackett said.

"It's something the team has always looked forward to . . . but I'm not sure it will ever be the same after this."

Rugby is a club sport at the University of New Brunswick. It is not a recognized varsity sport in Canada and does not receive funding from the university's athletic department.

Instead, it falls under the university's recreation department.

Recreation officials plan to meet with rugby team representatives following the team's return from Halifax to review club policies and guidelines.

The team finished the season with a perfect 6-0 regular record and defeated St. Thomas 29-14 to advance to the Atlantic championship tournament this weekend.

[The Ref]

Sounds a bit harsh. I think of Brandi Chastain exposing her bra when the U.S. won the women WC in front of a packed stadium and a world wide TV audience, I don't believe she was reprimanded.

[The Ref]

Sounds a bit harsh. I think of Brandi Chastain exposing her bra when the U.S. won the women WC in front of a packed stadium and a world wide TV audience, I don't believe she was reprimanded.

[argh1]

I know unreal eh? But what do you expect when the teams playing for the Caledonia Cup ( senior mens rugby ) are named Saint John Loyalists vs Tars of Halifax . I'm guessing named after Jolly Tar of 18th century press gang fame . Puritanical beliefs may never leave us down east. The protestant work ethic survives [)]

Okay stupid late edit and or thought but has it occured to any-one that even rugby is light years ahead of the CSA in national structure.

There's no Maritime Cup for soccer just provincial title than nationals []

[argh1]

I know unreal eh? But what do you expect when the teams playing for the Caledonia Cup ( senior mens rugby ) are named Saint John Loyalists vs Tars of Halifax . I'm guessing named after Jolly Tar of 18th century press gang fame . Puritanical beliefs may never leave us down east. The protestant work ethic survives [)]

Okay stupid late edit and or thought but has it occured to any-one that even rugby is light years ahead of the CSA in national structure.

There's no Maritime Cup for soccer just provincial title than nationals []

[Grizzly]

Rugby should be a varsity sport in my opinion. We are too uptight about nudity in this country but I can see the university's point in that they are representing the university and are not an independent rugby club. A simple order to refrain from this in the future without suspensions should have been sufficient.

[DoyleG]

No chance of seeing rugby as a men's varsity sport in the future.